World No. 1 Jannik Sinner moves through gears to reach Italian Open quarter-finals

ROME – Jannik Sinner came through the first true test of his comeback from a doping ban with a straight-sets win over Francisco Cerundolo on May 13, which took the world No. 1 into the Italian Open quarter-finals.

The Italian star defeated 17th seed Cerundolo of Argentina 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in a match which was delayed by a couple of hours due to a torrential downpour, to set up a last-eight clash with Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud, who saw off Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-4 on May 14.

Cerundolo knocked out Sinner in the last 16 the last time he played here in 2023, but that was before the 23-year-old became the tournament-winning machine he is today.

Sinner is finding his feet in Rome, his first tournament since the end of a three-month suspension sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) following two positive tests for traces of clostebol in March 2024.

His true target is the French Open, which follows his home event, and he showed some signs of rediscovering the form which has won him three Grand Slams and the 2024 ATP Finals.

“I’m very happy, because today I felt that I raised my level. Game-wise I felt a little bit better,” he said.

“I’m happy to be back. I was three months out so, you know, every situation for me, I feel very fortunate to be here.”

Sinner had to battle through the first set against a spirited Cerundolo but once he prevailed in the tiebreak, he built up an unassailable lead by winning four games in a row in the second.

The packed centre-court stands hailed their hero after he took the win at the fourth time of asking to continue his bid for a first Rome title.

“I’ve gone through a lot mentally, and not only today, so it’s really important that I rest psychologically tomorrow, not think about tennis,” added Sinner.

“Let’s see how well I can manage all this, but I’m pleased.”

The rain which delayed Sinner’s match had a much bigger impact on his compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, who also reached the last eight after having to wait nearly three hours at match point before he could finish off his victory over Daniil Medvedev.

World No. 9 Musetti faced reigning Rome champion Alexander Zverev in the last eight on May 14 after seeing off Medvedev 7-5, 6-4. The result was unavailable at press time.

The winner will face world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who beat fifth-ranked Madrid Open finalist Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4 on May 14.

Musetti held his nerve to win on the first point after the long break and made sure that his first week in the top 10 of the world rankings would bring another solid run in a big tournament, after he reached the final in Monte Carlo and the last four in Madrid.

Organisers later said that Musetti would have to pull out of his doubles campaign alongside Lorenzo Sonego due to an injury to his right arm.

Fellow Italian Jasmine Paolini was playing on centre court at the same time as the first part of Musetti’s match but managed to complete her comeback from a set down to beat Diana Shnaider 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-2 just before the worst of the weather hit.

She is the first Italian woman to reach the Rome semi-finals since 2014, when her doubles partner Sara Errani got to the final, only to be soundly beaten by Serena Williams.

Paolini will face Peyton Stearns for a spot in the final after the American knocked out Elina Svitolina 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).

Also booking her last-four spot was Coco Gauff.

The world No. 3 quelled the challenge of seventh seed Mirra Andreeva with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory on May 14 to reach the Rome semi-finals for a second successive year.

Next up for her will be either world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or eighth-ranked Zheng Qinwen. Their quarter-final ended after press time.

“At the end, my defence, it was tough. We were both tight in the tiebreaker, it was whoever could make the last ball,” said Gauff. AFP, REUTERS